Philippine Defense Resource: Additional FA-50 Aircraft Acquisition Project of the Philippine AIr Force

As part of continued efforts to improve its air combat capability, the Philippine Air Force requested for the acquisition of additional Fighter / Surface Attack Aircraft / Lead-in Fighter Trainers, which is its term for Light Combat Aircraft, as part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

This resource page focuses on the acquisition of Additional FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft, which is actually the second acquisition of the said aircraft under the RAFPMP, the first being as part of the Horizon 1 phase.

Two FA-50PH Fighting Eagle LCAs of the Philippine Air Force during Exercise Pitch Black 2024 in Northern Territory, Australia. Photo credits to the French Air and Space Force.

Project Summary:

Additional FA-50 Aircraft Acquisition Project (aka Fighter / Surface Attack Aircraft / Lead-in Fighter Trainer Phase 2) :

Note: Edited as of 17 July 2025.

* End User: Philippine Air Force (5th Fightrer Wing)

* Quantity: 12 units, plus unspecified munitions and ILS package

* Modernization Phase: Re-Horizon 3 Phase of RAFPMP

* Project ABC: Php40,000,000,000.00

* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) deal between the Philippine DND and South Korea Ministry of Defense

* Source of Funding: Multi-Year Contractual Authority for (X) years, using General Appropriations Act (GAA) from FY2025 to FY200X.

* SARO Release/s: TBC

* Winning Proponent: Korea Aerospace Industries

* Product for Delivery: FA-50 Block 70 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft

* Contract Price: Php39,999,995,509.54

* Residual Amount: Php4,490.46

* First post by MaxDefense: 15 June 2022

* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PAFAdditionalFA50Acquisition #PAFFSAALIFTPhase2Acquisition

* Status: The project was included as part of the Re-Horizon 3 phase of the RAFPMP, and was acquired through Government-to-Government mechanism with the South Korean Ministry of Defense. Notice of Award given to Korea Aerospace Industries on 21 May 2025, and a Contract was signed between the DND and KAI on 02 June 2025. Delivery of first 3 units expected by 1st or 2nd quarter 2028.

Overview:

In the Philippine Air Force's original plan under the Revised AFP Modernization Program drafted and approved in 2014, it was indicated that the PAF will need at least 24 Surface Attack Aircraft (SAA), which is its term for a jet-powered light combat aircraft capable of launching bombs, air-to-ground missiles, rockets and other munitions to attack land and naval surface targets.

The plan was to procure an initial batch of 12 units under Horizon 1 priority phase, and 12 units under the Horizon 2 priority phase.

So far, the Philippine Government under former President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III was able to meet the request to acquire the initial batch under the Horizon 1 phase, which saw the selection and procurement of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft from South Korean aviation company Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

The term used back in 2015 was "Fighter / Surface Attack Aircraft / Lead-in Fighter Trainer", which is a combination indicating its intended purpose of being a light fighter aircraft capable of air combat and surface attack missions, as well as being used as a lead-in fighter trainer for pilots being prepared for assignment on more advanced Multi-Role Fighters.

12 FA-50PH Fighting Eagle LCAs were delivered to the PAF starting late 2015, and was completed by July 2017.

These aircraft formed the revitalized fighter component of the PAF, conducting air policing and patrols, ground attack, surveillance and training platform for fast jet student pilots.

While it was hoped that the second batch of F/SAA/LIFT aircraft as well as the first batch of Multirole Fighters would be acquired as part of the Horizon 2 phase, the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte failed to finance both projects despite getting approval.

With Horizon 3 phase arriving, which later on was revised to the current Re-Horizon 3 plan, the acquisition of a second squadron of 12 F/SAA/LIFT aircraft was again included, which eventually was renamed as the "Additional FA-50 Aircraft" Acquisition Project after a decision by the DND and PAF was made to do a follow-on order of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle instead of selecting a different model for commonality reasons.

This was despite offers made by several other aircraft manufacturers including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) which offered the Hurjet, Hindustan Aerospace Industries (HAL) with their Tejas Mk.1A, Boeing and Saab with their T-7 Red Hawk, and Leonardo with their M-346FA.

The TAI Hurjet was among those offered to the PAF for the F/SAA/LIFT Phase 2 project. Photo credits to TAI.

With the selection, the DND moved to procure the aircraft via Government-to-Government (G2G) process. Despite the who negotiation process happening since 2023, the proper tender tender process was only on April 2025, although the process from then on was very quick,with a Notice of Award released in favor of Korea Aerospace Industries as early as 21 May 2025, and a contract signed between KAI and the DND in Camp Aguinaldo on 02 June 2025

Based on information released by the DND, the aircraft will be the FA-50 Block 70, with the first batch of 3 aircraft are expected to be delivered on or before 2nd quarter of 2028, with the entire order expected to be delivered by 2030.

The Block 70, previously known as the Block 20, is a further evolution of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle from Korea Aerospace Industries.

It will have ability to use carry the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod and the GBU-12 Paveway II smart bomb which were added under the Block 50, as well as the 300 gallon center line tank and an aerial refuelling capability from the Block 60.

In addition, the Block 70 will have AESA surveillance and fire control radar, enabling the use of beyond visual range air to air missiles (BVRAAM) and off boresight air to air missiles.

These would make them more advanced than the PAF's current fleet, which are Block 0 or 1 variants that have some few modifications in terms of data link, communications, and possibly on updates on its mechanical fire control radar.

This new Block 70 aircraft would be the same as those ordered by Malaysia and Poland recently.